Principal Message

Dear Families and Community,

As we reach the end of Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our students, staff, and families for another fantastic term at Elisabeth Murdoch College. It has been a busy and rewarding few months, and I am incredibly proud of the achievements and efforts of our school community.

A special congratulations goes to the cast, crew, and staff involved in our College Production of 9 to 5. The talent on display was absolutely amazing, with our band providing incredible live music to accompany the performances. From backstage to front of house, the success of the show was only possible thanks to the dedication and countless hours given by so many people. Thank you.

Elisabeth Murdoch College is a finalist in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards for "Koorie Emerging Leaders in Schools"! KELiS is one of three finalists across the state in the "Outstanding Koorie Education" category. KELiS began in 2022 at Elisabeth Murdoch College. Since then, it has grown to include 16 schools in the Bayside Peninsula area. The events explore leadership, belonging and identity. Koorie students and Koorie Engagement Support Officers helped design the program. It has improved learning, engagement, attendance and wellbeing. 

Congratulations also to our VM students who have officially finished their scheduled classes. We wish you the very best of luck as you prepare for your final interviews and presentations in the first few weeks of Term 4. To our Year 12 TP students, we are also wishing you every success as you continue your exam preparations. Remember, the most effective study strategies involve small, regular sessions, completing timed practice questions, seeking feedback, and continuing to refine and improve your responses. You will be busy next week completing practice exams and your teachers have designed extra exam revision sessions "Session 6" which will continue next Term. 

This term has seen some wonderful achievements in sport. Well done to all students who competed at the Northern Peninsula District Athletics, and to those who represented EMC in interschool sport over the past couple of weeks. A special shout out to our Junior Girls who competed at the State Football competition. An incredible achievement!

Recently our staff curriculum day focused on our new Instructional Model, with particular emphasis on how teachers can build student knowledge and how students can apply that knowledge in different contexts. This is an exciting step forward in ensuring consistent, high-quality teaching across the College. This week we also commenced our Parent Teacher Conferences, which will continue tomorrow. It has been wonderful to meet with so many families and work together to support students in setting clear learning goals for the remainder of the year. These conversations are an important opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. We are collecting feedback on how these interviews are run and you can contribute using the following link. https://forms.gle/aQwehHxchMfPTrRq5 

To our future Year 7 students, well done on completing your specialist program auditions and interviews. We wish you the very best with your applications. Our Year 10 students also recently completed their work experience placements. I hope you found this a valuable opportunity and that it gave you insight into the world of work and future pathways. In addition, our Year 10 and 11 Formal was a wonderful evening. Students and staff looked fantastic, and it was terrific to see the dance floor full all night!

A reminder to all parents, carers, and guardians that the Department of Education’s annual Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey closes on 19th September. While the survey is optional, I strongly encourage families to participate as the results provide valuable feedback to help guide our future planning and improvement at EMC.

Finally, EMC students will have seen me out of breath trying to waddle up the EMC hill. I will be commencing maternity leave at the beginning of Term 4 as my family and I prepare to welcome our second baby boy. I will return to EMC in Term 3, 2026, and in my absence I would like to congratulate Ryan McGlade on their successful appointment as Acting Assistant Principal for Learning and Teaching. I know our College will continue to thrive under their leadership and the strength of the dedicated leadership team.

As we wrap up the term, I would like to thank everyone again for their contributions to what has been a successful and enjoyable Term 3. I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved holiday break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for an exciting Term 4.

Jess Wade

Assistant Principal